Administrative Regions

Fuzhou, also known as the City of Banyan, is the capital city of Fujian Province, as well as the provincial center of politics, economy, science & technology, education and culture. Lying in the southeastern coast of Fujian and lower reaches of Min River, Fuzhou is located at longitude 110°08'-120°31' east and latitude 25°02'- 26°29' north. The total area of Fuzhou amounts to 12,000 square kilometers, in which the urban area reaches 1043 square kilometers and the built-up area reaches 160 square kilometers. The total population hits 6,600,000, including an urban population of 2,430,000. With a coastline extending 1,137 kilometers and a maritime domain amounting to 12,000 square kilometers, Fuzhou is facing Taiwan across the Straits, while Pingtan Island is only 68 sea miles from Hsinchu, Taiwan and Huangqi Peninsula of Lianjiang County is only 8,000 meters from Matsu. Fuzhou now governs 5 districts (Gulou, Taijiang, Cangshan, Jinan and Mawei), 2 subordinated cities (Fuqing and Changle), 6 counties (Minhou, Lianjiang, Luoyuan, Minqing, Yongtai and Pingtan) and Langqi Economic Zone.

2. Xiamen

Xiamen is located at latitude 24°25'- 24°55' north and longitude 117°53'- 118°27' east. Situated in the southeast of Fujian and at the mouth of Jiulong River, it is bordering the flatland of Zhangzhou and Quanzhou and facing Jinmen Islands, Taiwan and Pescadores across the Taiwan Strait. Covering a land area of 1565.09 square kilometers and a maritime domain of 300 square kilometers, the city consists of Xiamen Island, Gulang Island, Tongan and coastal regions along the north shore of Jiulong River. As the principal part of Xiamen, Xiamen Island is 13.7 kilometers long from south to north and 12.5 kilometers wide from east to west. Covering a total area of 128.14 square kilometers, Xiamen Island is the fourth largest island in Fujian.

Xiamen governs Siming, Huli, Jimei, Haicang, Tongan and Xiangan. The urban population mainly consists of the Han nationality, as well as over 20 minority nationalities as Hui, Man, Zhuang, She, Miao and Gao-Shan. Owing to its geographical location and historical background, there are extensive returned overseas Chinese, relatives of overseas Chinese, native overseas Chinese and compatriots from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan.

3. Quanzhou

Located in the southeastern Coast of Fujian, Quanzhou is sited at latitude 24°22'-25°56' north and longitude 117°34'- 119°05' east, and covers an area of 11,220.5 square kilometers. With a total population of 6,546,200, Quanzhou governs 4 districts (Licheng, Fengze, Luojiang and Quangang), 3 subordinated cities (Shishi, Jinjiang and Nan'an) and 5 counties (Huian, Anxi, Yongchun, Dehua and Jinmen), where Min-nan (South Fujian) dialect is the native language.

Quanzhou is the starting-point of "Maritime Silk Road", as well as one of the first batch of 24 historical cities listed by the State Council. As early as in Tang Dynasty, the Ci-Tong Port of Quanzhou was one of major four foreign trade ports of China, and it was as well known as the Alexandria Port of Egypt and praised as the Grand Oriental Port during the Song Dynasty and the Yuan Dynasty. The city is also known as a famous hometown of numerous overseas Chinese and Taiwan compatriots. Currently, there are more than 6 million overseas Chinese of Quanzhou origin dispersed over 100 countries and regions, as well as 680,000 Hong Kong and Macao compatriots. Among all Taiwan compatriots, there are 9 million compatriots (44.8%) with Quanzhou origin, and it has always been a tradition of numerous overseas Chinese and Taiwan compatriots of Quanzhou origin to assist the development and construction of Quzhou City.

4. Zhangzhou

Located in the southeast of Fujian and at longitude 117°-118°east and latitude 23.8°-25°north, Zhangzhou is close to Taiwan Straits and facing Xiamen across the sea. It borders Quanzhou to the east, Longyan to the northwest and Shantou of Guangzhou to the southwest. Covering a total area of 12,600 square kilometers, Zhangzhou governs eight counties (Zhangpu, Yuxiao, Dongshan, Zhaoan, Pinghe, Nanjing, Huaan, Changtai and Longhai City) and two district (Xiangcheng and Longwen). The total population amounts to 4,500,000, most of which are of the Han nationality, as well as 21 minority nationalities as She and Gao-Shan. Being a famous hometown of overseas Chinese, there are 700,000 overseas Chinese and Hong Kong & Macao compatriots.

Zhangzhou is a famous time-honored cultural city listed by the State Council. Also known as a emerging industrial city, Quanzhou has developed its light industry system relying on brand-name, high-quality and specialty products and based on rural enterprises. Being advanced in agriculture, Quanzhou is approved by the State Council as the national export-oriented agricultural demonstration zone and Cross-Strait (Zhangzhou) agricultural cooperation experimental zone, boasting Taiwan-oriented agriculture, high-quality agriculture and export-oriented agriculture.

5. Putian

Putian, also known as "Xing-Hua", is located in the eastern coast of Fujian and at latitude 24°59'- 25°46' north and longitude 118°27’-119°40' east. Covering a area of 4,060.4 square kilometers, Putian borders Taiwan Strait to the east, Quanzhou to the west and to the south and Fuzhou to the north. There are jagged mountains in the northwest and chains of undulating hills in the middle, while the broad plains in the southeast and the meandering Mulan River, Yanshou River and Qiulu River also help constitute the typical Southern Chinese river-side scenery.

Administrative division: Putian was called Xin-Hua and Xin-An in ancient times, and has always been an important political, economic and cultural center in Middle Fujian. The city now governs Xianyou County, Licheng District, Chengxiang District, Hanjiang District and Xiuyu District, with a land area covering 4,200 square kilometers and total population amounting to 3,230,000. There are more than 600,000 overseas Chinese, foreign citizens of Chinese origin, and Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan compatriots with Putian origin. Among them, there are 470,000 overseas Chinese and foreign citizens of Chinese origin, making Putian one of major hometowns of overseas Chinese in Fujian.

6. Ningde

Located at longitude 118°32'- 120°44' east and latitude 26°18'- 27°4' north, Ningde borders Fuzhou to the south, Zhejiang to the north, Nanping to the west and Taiwan Strait to the east. The region now governs three cities (Ningde, Fu'an and Fuding) and six counties (Xiapu, Zherong, Shouning, Gutian, Pingnan and Zhouning). Covering a land area of 13,400 square kilometers and a sea area of 44,600 square kilometers, Ningde has a total population of 3,235,700, among which the population of She Nationality amounts to 200,000 (accounting for 40% of the national population of She Nationality). The native language is Min-Dong (East Fujian) dialect, while Min-Nan (South Fujian) dialect is also spoken in some coastal regions and Pu-Xian dialect in a few places. Furthermore, besides Min-Dong (East Fujian) dialect which is popular in some northern places, Wu dialect is spoken in North Shouning and Hakka dialect is spoken in Lanjian of Fu'an.

The broad lands of Ningde bear commercial crops of wood, tea, fruit and bamboo, while such native products as tea, domestic fungus, four-season pomelo, Bin-Lang taro, late-ripened leechee, late-ripened longan, apple, seedless persimmon and hairy chestnut enjoy a good market at home and abroad. It is an ideal place for developing brand-name, high-quality and specialty agricultural by-products.

7. Sanming

Located in the northwest of Fujian Province and at latitude 25°29'- 27°07' north and longitude 116°22'- 118°39' east, the region of Sanming is 230 kilometers wide from east to west and 180 kilometers long from south to north, and borders Fuzhou to the east, Quanzhou to the south, Longyan to the west, Nanping to the north and Jiangxi to the northwest. Covering an area of 22,928.8 square kilometers, in which mountainous regions account for 82%, farmlands account for 8.3% and water areas/others account for 9.7%, Sanming is therefore described as "80% mountain, 10% water and 10% farmland". The forest cover rate reaches 73.8%, while the mean annual temperature is 19.4℃. Featuring central Asia tropical climate, Sanming is long in summer and short in winter, and is a ideal tourist resort all the year round. Sanming now governs two districts (Meilie and Sanyuan) and nine counties (Yongan City, Mingxi, Qingliu, Ninghua, Datian, Youxi, Shaxian, Jiangle, Taining and Jianning), and has a total population of 2,667,200. The Min-Zhong (Central Fujian)dialect is the native language of Sanming (municipality), Yongan ans Shaxian, while Min-Nan (South Fujian) dialect is spoken in Youxi and Datian, Min-Xi (West Fujian) dialect is spoken in Ninghua and Qingliu, and Min-Gan (Fujian and Jiangxi) dialect is spoken in Jianning, Taining, Jiangle and Mingxi.

8. Longyan

Located in the southwest of Fujian (generally called West Fujian), Longyan borders on Guangdong Province and Jiangxi Province, and is sited at latitude 24°23'- 26°02' north and longitude 115°51'- 117°44' east. The Min-Nan (South Fujian) dialect is the native language of Longyan and Zhangping, while Hakka dialect is popular among all other regions. Longyan governs Xinluo District, Zhangping City, Yongding County, Shanghang County, Wuping County, Changting County and Liancheng County. With a total urban area of 19,100 square kilometers and a population of 2,865,100, Longyan also has approximate 1 million overseas Chinese and Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macao compatriots.

The West Fujian is a renowned revolutionary base area. There are totally 610 revolutionary base villages and 23,600 martyrs, accounting for more than 50% of the total number of revolutionary martyrs of Fujian. During 1955-1965, the number of newly-promoted generals with Jiangxi origin hit 68, accounting for 82% of total number of generals from Fujian. The long-term revolution had brought up the tradition of diligent and hard-working, the habit of simple and plain living and the revolutionary spirit of intrepidity and utter devotion, which are regarded as the precious advantages for opening up and developing the regional economy of West Fujian.

9. Nanping

Located in the north of Fujian and on the southeast side of the north segment of Wuyi Mount, Nanping lies on the borders of Fujian, Zhejiang and Jiangxi, which is called "North Fujian", and is situated at latitude 26°15'-28°19' north and longitude 117°00'- 119°17' east. Covering an area of 26,280.6 square kilometers, it is the biggest municipality in Fujian. With a total population of 3,040,800, Nanping governs Yanping District, Shaowu City, Wuyishan City, Jian'ou City and Jianyang City, as well as five counties as Shunchang, Pucheng, Guangze, Songxi and Zhenghe. The Min-Gan (Fujian and Jiangxi) dialect is the native language of Shaowu, Guangze, Shunchang, while Wu dialect is popular in Pucheng and Min-Dong (East Fujian) dialect is popular in Nanping (this dialect is the official dialect in North Fujian). The Min-Bei (North Fujian) dialect is spoken in all other places.

As a major grain-producing area of Fujian, 8 out of 10 counties (cities) under the jurisdiction of Nanping are national or provincial marketable grain producing base counties. The annual output of marketable grain accounts for 1/3 of the total output of Fujian. Also known as one of major forest regions of South China, Nanping is also famed as "Green Treasury". With a forest cover rate of 68.3%, Nanping accounts for 30% of the total timber reserves of Fujian. Meanwhile, the North Fujian is also a major bamboo production area, while Jian'ou and Shunchang are both listed among the top ten hometowns of bamboo in China.

Annex

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